Hazard Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hazard Park |
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Baseball at Hazard Park
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | 2230 Norfolk Street, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles |
| Area | 26.5 acres (10.7 ha) |
| Operated by | City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks |
| Status | Open all year |
Hazard Park is a large, 26.5-acre (10.7 ha) city park located in Los Angeles, California. It's a popular spot for sports and outdoor activities. The park was named after Henry T. Hazard, who was the 20th mayor of Los Angeles.
The park is right next to the County+USC Medical Center and the Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School.
History of Hazard Park
Early Days and Features
Hazard Park has been a part of Los Angeles for a long time. It was named after Henry T. Hazard, an important figure in the city's past.
In 1911, a big new feature opened at the park: a 2000-seat terraced grandstand. This was a great place for people to watch sports and events. The park also opened "the largest and best fitted playgrounds," which were even divided into separate areas for boys and girls.
Saving Hazard Park: A Community Effort
In 1962, there was a plan to build a large hospital for military veterans on 16.5 acres of the park land. The Veterans Administration (VA) wanted to trade this park land for a bigger piece of land (21.8 acres) near a wealthier area called Westwood.
Many people in the community were very upset about this idea. They formed a group called the "Save Hazard Park Association." They felt it was unfair to take away park land from their community, which was less wealthy, and exchange it for land in a richer area. They called it "Robin Hoodism in reverse."
Even though the City Parks Commission, Mayor Sam Yorty, and the city council approved the exchange in 1966, the Association kept fighting. They even took legal action to stop the plan, but it was denied in 1968.
By 1969, the protests had grown so strong that Mayor Yorty changed his mind. He asked the city council to cancel the plan. The Los Angeles Times newspaper called this a victory for the Save Hazard Park Association.
In May 1970, the community held a big celebration at the park. They were celebrating that the plan to take their park land had been stopped. A local artist named Leo Politi, who had painted murals at the park during the protests, was part of the celebration.
In 2000, supporters worked to add a nearby 2-acre section of wetlands to the park. The group leading these efforts was the Save Hazard Park Association, which later changed its name to Friends of Hazard Park and Hazard Park Wetlands.
